“PLURIGLANDULAR” MIXTURES
Caps. Adreno-Spermin Comp., Caps. Antero-Pituitary Comp., Caps. Placento-Mammary Comp., Caps. Thyro-Ovarian Comp., Caps. Hepato-Splenic Comp., Caps. Pancreas Comp., and Caps. Thyroid Comp., Not Admitted to N. N. R.
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
After considering the evidence for the several “pluriglandular” mixtures described below, the Council declared them inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies. The Council’s action was communicated to the manufacturer, Henry R. Harrower, in accordance with the usual procedure. After giving due consideration to the manufacturer’s reply the Council authorized publication of the report which appears below.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
With the offer “to supply you with as much literature as may be necessary and as little of the actual remedies as may be desired” if “the prospects for the inclusion of these formulas in N. N. R. are good,” Henry R. Harrower sent the Council a booklet descriptive of his preparations and labels for the following mixtures:
Caps. Adreno-Spermin Comp., each said to contain “Adrenal Gland (total) gr. 1⁄4, Thyroid Gland (U. S. P.) gr. 1⁄12, Spermin Extr. (from Gonads), Brain and Spinal Cord aa gr. 1, Calc. Glycerophosphate q. s. ad gr. 5.”
Caps. Antero-Pituitary Comp., each said to contain “Anterior Pituitary Body gr. 2, Thymus Gland gr. 1, Thyroid Gland (U. S. P.) gr. 1⁄12, Calcium-phosphorus Comp. q. s. ad gr. 5.”
Caps. Placento-Mammary Co., each said to contain “Desiccated Placenta gr. 2, Mammary Substance gr. 11⁄2, Pituitary Body (total) gr. 1⁄3, Calcium-phosphorus Comp. q. s. ad. gr. 5.”
Caps. Thyro-Ovarian Comp., each said to contain “Desic. Corpora Lutea Ovarian Substance gr. 21⁄2, Thyroid Gland (U. S. P.) gr. 1⁄12, Pituitary Gland (total) gr. 1⁄8, Calcium-phosphorus Comp. q. s. ad gr. 5.”
Caps. Hepato-Splenic Comp., each said to contain “Liver Parenchyma, Spleen Substance aa gr. 2, Powd. Bile Salts gr. 1⁄2, Adreno-Spermin Co. (No. 1) gr. 1.”
Caps. Pancreas Comp., each said to contain “Adrenal Gland, Pituitary Gland (total) aa gr. 1⁄2, Ovarian Substance gr. 1, Pancreas Substance q. s. ad gr. 5.”
Caps. Thyroid Comp., each said to contain “Desic. Thyroid Gland (U. S. P.) gr. 1⁄8, Calcium-phosphorus Comp. q. s. ad gr. 5.”
The Council declared these preparations inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies, for reasons which follow:
1. Each of the mixtures contains one ingredient or more, which is neither recognized in the U. S. Pharmacopeia nor admitted to New and Nonofficial Remedies, namely: “Spermin Extract,” “Brain,” “Spinal Cord,” “Desiccated Placenta,” “Liver Parenchyma,” “Spleen Substance,” “Pancreas Substance” and “Calcium Phosphorus Comp. (Each 100 gm. represents Magnes. Phos. 1; Calc. glycerophos. 4; Potas. bicarb. 15; Sod. bicarb. 22 and Sod. chlor. q. s.).” For obvious reasons the Council does not accept a mixture containing an indefinite ingredient and hence it would be necessary as a preliminary for the consideration of any one of the mixtures that their unofficial ingredients be made eligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies by the submission of evidence that such ingredient is of uniform composition and that it is therapeutically valuable when given by mouth. There is no evidence that many of these organs have any value whatever when administered by the mouth or in any other way.
2. In the light of our knowledge the administration of gland mixtures in the host of conditions enumerated in the advertising circular is irrational and on a par with the use of the shotgun mixtures once in vogue.
Be it a pharmaceutical mixture, a “mixed” vaccine, or a “pluriglandular” product, the combination of two medicinal ingredients in a mixture must be considered contrary to rational therapy unless a good reason exists for such combination. Such mixtures are held in conflict with Rule 10 unless the manufacturer presents acceptable evidence for the value of his combination. A physician may prescribe any mixture which he considers indicated in a given case, but the marketing of mixtures of drugs in fixed proportions is in most instances irrational and a detriment to sound therapy.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 18, 1919)